Pandemic Will Require Distance Learning Until 2021, Says Brazilian Education Council

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday, July 7th, the National Education Council (CNE) approved an opinion with guidelines for the gradual return to in-person classes and educational activities. Despite the suggestions presented, the body stresses that the return will not cover the complete learning program and that distance learning will be required at least until 2021.

Throughout the country, students from public and private networks, from early childhood to higher education, are taking remote classes and activities to comply with the social distancing guidelines established by authorities and governments to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2), which causes Covid-19.

The Council text contains 14 points with general recommendations for planning the return to in-person classes:

1. Observation of national and local health protocols;
2. Coordination and cooperation of actions between government levels;
3. Establishment of cooperative networks between educational levels and public and private institutions;
4. Territorial coordination;
5.Establishment of the return-to-school calendar;
6. Planning of the return calendar;
7. Communication, with wide disclosure of calendars, protocols, and reopening arrangements;
8. Teacher and staff training and qualification;
9. Welcoming, with special attention to all students considering the socio-emotional issues that may have affected many students, families and school professionals during isolation;
10. Planning of student rehabilitation activities;
11. Academic flexibility, considering the option of planning a 2020-2021 curriculum continuum;
12. 2020-2021 calendar coordination;
13. Regulatory flexibility, with the revision of the criteria adopted in the evaluation processes with the aim of avoiding an increase in failing grades and school dropouts;
14. Flexibility of in-person school attendance.

The document was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and included the participation of bodies such as the Union of Municipal Education Directors (UNDIME); the National Council of Secretaries of Education (CONSED); the National Union of Municipal Education Councils (UNCME); and the Forum of Educational Institutions; in addition to dialogue with experts and civil society organizations.

The opinion has already been voted on at the CNE and unanimously approved. It is now under review and will be forwarded to the MEC for approval within the next few days.

The text stresses that the resumption should consider distance learning factors during the isolation period, such as “the differences in learning among students who have a greater likelihood of parental support” and “the differences observed among students in the same school in their resilience, motivation, and skills to learn independently online or offline”.

The document also states that the described guidelines should be considered as suggestions to education systems, networks, schools, teachers, and school officials.

Source: G1